NHTSA Complaint #10066415 — 2001 DODGE DAKOTA

2001 DODGE DAKOTA EQUIPPED WITH A 4.7 LITER EIGHT CYLINDER ENGINE WITH 46024 MILES BEGAN TO HAVE A LIGHT KNOCK. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO METROLINA DODGE WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SPUN A ROD, DUE TO EXCESSIVE OIL SLUDGE BUILD UP. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DAMAGE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED BY DODGE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. MY HUSBAND AND FATHER HAVE CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 3500 MILES, BUT ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE AT METROLINA IF DODGE DID NOT PERFORM ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE THEN THE WARRANTY IS VOIDED. MY HUSBAND WENT TO METROLINA DODGE TO HAVE THE SERVICE WRITER SHOW HIM THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THAT THEY WERE TELLING ME ABOUT. WHILE HE WAS THERE THE SERVICE WRITER KEVIN ST.CLAIR TOLD MY HUSBAND THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL 4.7 AND 2.7-LITER ENGINES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. KEVIN SAID THAT IT WOULD COST $6500.00 TO REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT, ONE ROD, AND THE BEARINGS. *JB